The spokesperson for President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign, Femi Fani-Kayode, has come down hard on former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his comments that Mr. Jonathan is planning a “Gbagbo treatment” for Nigeria.
Mr. Obasanjo, who addressed journalists at his hilltop residence in Abeokuta on Saturday, said Mr. Jonathan may be working towards a controversial poll and possibly exit from office the same way former Ivorian president, Laurent Gbagbo, did in his country.
The former President advised Mr. Jonathan not to destroy his name for selfish reasons.
In a swift reaction, Mr. Fani-Kayode who also served as minister and spokesperson for Mr. Obasanjo’s administration took strong exception to Mr. Obasanjo’s remarks.
“We reject President Obasanjo’s very serious and grave allegations and we are not in the least bit disturbed by them because we know that they have no basis in truth, rationality or reason,” Mr. Fani-Kayode said.
“The days of anyone attempting to rule by proxy or through surrogates are long over because we have all come of age. President Jonathan is ready for this election and the PDP will win it hands down despite all the lies and propaganda that is being peddled by the opposition and their new found friends. That is the bitter truth and those that do not like it should learn to live with it.”
See the full text of his statement below
Subject: Response to Obasanjo by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, Director of Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation.
It is sad and unfortunate that President Olusegun Obasanjo, a father of the nation and a man that we all revere and have immense respect for, could have misread the situation so badly.
It is simply not true that President Goodluck Jonathan wishes to remain in power at all costs and the suggestion that he has a hidden agenda or that he somehow imposed his will on INEC by getting them to postpone the elections is baseless and absurd.
The security chiefs made their recommendations and there were numerous other challenges that INEC had which caused them to postpone the elections for six weeks. This was INEC’s decision and not Jonathan’s.
The reasons for that postponement were profound and legitimate and we have made it clear all along that whether the election was on the 14th February or any other day President Jonathan is more than ready.
President Goodluck Jonathan has also made it clear that no matter what happens, the handover date of 29 May will stand after the elections have been fought and won. What more does President Obasanjo want to hear?
It is most uncharitable and unfair for him to suggest that President Jonathan wishes to remain in power by hook or by crook because that is not the nature of Jonathan. It is even worse for him to compare him to President Laurent Gbagbo.
To Jonathan, politics is not a matter of do or die and President Obasanjo knows this more than anyone else. We will respond to President Obasanjo in full at the appropriate time but the truth is that we will not allow him or anyone else to distract us from the task that lies ahead.
We have an election to fight and to win and that remains our primary focus. We reject President Obasanjo’s very serious and grave allegations and we are not in the least bit disturbed by them because we know that they have no basis in truth, rationality or reason.
The days of anyone attempting to rule by proxy or through surrogates are long over because we have all come of age. President Jonathan is ready for this election and the PDP will win it hands down despite all the lies and propaganda that is being peddled by the opposition and their new found friends. That is the bitter truth and those that do not like it should learn to live with it.
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If indeed your stated response is anything to go-by, it's really amazing that PDP till date is unable to proffer any response to the Ekitigate revelations by APC and the need to have all the matter quickly investigated and ensure all involved and found culpable are immediately prosecuted.
ReplyDeleteThe many frustrations of Obj is telling, please someone should help this old man before he goes down to the grave as a bitter man.
ReplyDeleteFani, I really do not know why you speak from both sides of your mouth. that was exactly the first step Gbagbo took, so if someone said your drunk wants to act like him, then it is no accusation!!! you retard!!! I hope you have you passport ready?
ReplyDeleteBut honestly speaking, what president Obasanjo said was not out of order. He is very correct!!! The sad event in Ivory Coast started out like this. Lauren Gbagbo postponed elections and eventually when they were held, he lost and then refused to leave. It took intervention and national security forces to chase him out of power after which he got arrested and jailed. Bad leaders!! President Obasanjo, as an intellect has forseen this happening in Nigeria, if care is not taken. President Jonathan and his manipulators may not at this point know the implications of the game they are playing. But baba Obasanjo has just told them. It's left to them to ensure this does not happen.
ReplyDeleteFFK you were once a friend of the opposition, but left after all the case of theft against you were dropped. You are nothing but a disgrace and a traitor to our dear nation. It hight time you keep quiet because you have lost every respect nigerians had for you before. Thief
ReplyDelete